School days in Saltney

Last updated: 17 June 2009

your comments

Sandra Michael nee Barnes
Nice to see all the names. Jean Mathews, nice to see you on. Remember all the dancing we did. Remember your handsome brothers and lovely mum. I left for London when I was 18, enjoyed the big bands in London. It was great. Love to David Hughes remember all his family. Very good looking. Remember Carolo the queen and Adrain then Sheila Lightfoot then Barbara Burrows. My mum collected round the St for a new dress for her as the old one was getting a bit shabby. Hello to Syd too. I remember you. As someone said, I knew all the names of everyone in Victoria Rd having lived at 45 then 150.
Wed Jun 17 07:44:36 2009

Steve Derbyshire frm Saltney.
Hi, this if for all the ex St Davids pupils circa 1970 - 1972. As I am sure all of you are aware the half century is looming on the horizon and the thought crossed my mind that it would be as good a time as any to have a bit of a get together/reunion. I guess it depends how many are aware of or visit this site but would be interested to know if anyone fancies it or has any other ideas.
Nick, Webteam, replies: Hi, you should try visiting FriendsReunited as it is especially for reuniting old school friends and has every school listed.
Tue May 12 08:11:40 2009

Graham Thomas, Buckley
I was at Saltney Sec. school from about 1955 to 59/60. nickname was Tomo. Used to see Wendy now and again. I used to fix electrical things. Worked at Manweb until I was 52. I see Jeff Ashcroft occasionally. Would you believe Miss Norbury is still alive? Must be 100 ish.
Mon Apr 27 09:26:15 2009

Val Bowbanks Horton, Saltney now in Stourbridge
To Fransisca Ruddock. I remember Joan Palin who lived in Moss Grove, Saltney, in the 1940/50s. Was she a relative? Does anyone know the whereabouts of Susan Lindsay from Moss Grove? I would love to get in touch with her.
Mon Apr 20 10:27:56 2009

Francisca Ruddock
I would love to hear from anyone who remembers a Eunice and Dorothy Palin? They live in Saltney Ferry (both born in the 1920s) and went to Harwarden Grammar school. Mother was Winifred Palin and they stayed with their grandmother in North Street, Mold Junction. This would have been in the 1930s. Both are still alive and well!
Mon Mar 23 11:29:28 2009

Val Bowbanks, Horton, Stourbridge
Hi all on this website. Such a shame [this form] is closing. I hope the other one is as good. This has brought so many memories to a lot of people, some we had forgotten, now remembered. To John Dixon, thanks so much for the trouble you went to to send me 1954 photo of Hawarden Grammar School. I have sent copies to Brenda Swift, so between us we should come up with more names.
Thu Feb 26 08:01:50 2009

Sid Garston from Hawarden
Previously 84, Vicky Road, I have just stumbled across this wonderful site. I attended Saltney Sec. Mod. 1956/60. I have many happy memories of the school and of living in Saltney. Reading all the previous comments has helped my 'old timer's' memory to recall long forgotten facts and incidents. To Barbara Lochland and John I considered myself very fortunate to have been a friend of Bobby who was not only a great footballer but a bundle of mischief and fun. Have you any news of Anne and Shane? I am in touch with some Saltney Folk and ex Saltney Sec. Mod. scholars but would be grateful to catch up with any other who might know me.
Wed Feb 18 09:35:35 2009

Jean Knaggs nee Mathews
Jean here. Me and my brothers, Ray, Frank, Mac and Les Mathews, have really enjoyed looking at the posts. I'd really like to hear from Barbara Lochland who was one of my very good friends in school.
Mon Feb 16 08:44:59 2009

Julie Railton, Northwich, Cheshire
Does anybody remember the Dunn family from Kynaston Drive? My dad was Tony, born 1946 he went to the Secondary modern and Hawarden Grammar. Would love to hear from you.
Fri Feb 13 09:44:14 2009

Barrie Gregory
To Barbara Lochland, very sad to note that Bobby had passed away and so young too! I remember Bobby as being a really good footballer, a wizard of the dribble, as we used to say. I can still remember being at your house playing records on an old wind up record player.
Mon Feb 9 09:53:08 2009

Dave Hughes from Australia
Message for Barbara Lochland in Melbourne. I knew your brother Bobby and your family. I was looking at some Carnival pictures when my sister Carole was Carnival Queen in 1954. She took over the crown from Adrian Evans who lived in Irvings Crescent. If you would like to see the pictures I can send copies, as I too live in Melbourne (South Frankston). Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, and Saltney nostalgia is even better. I hope you are well and managing to stay cool in this heat wave.
Thu Jan 29 09:55:55 2009

Barbara Lochland from Melbourne, Australia
Note Barry Gregory mentioned my brother, Robert Dixon (Bobby). Unfortunately he died in 1981 in Namibia, West Africa. He had lived there since the 1970s. He died on the soccer field.
Wed Jan 7 16:07:31 2009

Val Goff from Mold Junction
Oh my goodness! Wow, what a lemon I am, I've only just spotted this site and the names that appear above! It's amazing! Hi Gaynor and Steven! But more amazingly, Chris Price! I've been trying to get in touch with you for years, keep meaning to call and see Janice for your address, but maybe Gaynor can help? Yes the numbers are increasing on Facebook, quite rapidly now, anyone on there add me! And Chris - get on Facebook please! We are still intending to go ahead with the reunion in 2009, although it's a bit far to travel for Mike Paget! Please get in touch.
Fri Jan 2 10:15:40 2009

Pauline Griffiths nee Gough. Wrexham
I was born in Curzen St in top Saltney, as we called it. My nan Polly Lloyd was a person everyone would remember as either working behind the bar in the Brewery Arms, late 1950s and early '60s or on her knees making sure the steps of the Brewery were always white; a sight that you do not see now. I always remember watching with pride, the time Tommy Jones got the media in to film her on her last days working behind the bar. She was the oldest barmaid in Britain at the time. I remember going around the next day to tell her I had seen her on the telly, she was so proud. We moved to Plas Newton for a short while, but my mum (Bertha) got homesick for Saltney so we moved to Beechwood Rd where I spent many a good time, where a picnic was a bottle of sugar water and some blackjacks and fruit salads that I would get from Peggys in Boundary Lane, or my sister Maxine and I would get my dad to make us something to catch tadpoles in - a jam jar with some string attached and we would go and catch tadpoles from the ditches in Green lane, then put them in a big tank in the garden, then my poor dad used to have a garden full of frogs. They were happy days; we didn't need computers or we were never bored. There was always something to do like making tents in the garden with one of my mum's old sheets, or seeing how many things we could fit in a matchbox. Sometimes having the odd battle, with my cousins Nidge and Paul (Morgan) in the street. Oh such happy days. We used to love going to the rec when the field had just been mowed, collecting all the hay and jumping off the old air raid shelter. You never see anything like that now, kids are always stuck in the bedrooms on computers or are bored because they have not got one.
Tue Nov 18 08:26:03 2008

Gaynor Hughes, Saltney
Hi again to everyone who went to St David's High School Saltney during 1971 to 1976. There are quite a few of us coming out of the wood work on facebook now. Some good photos of us all and more needed, and Mr Evans was definitely a hit with me...lol!
Mon Oct 27 09:12:27 2008

John Dixon from Saltney Ferry
I lived at 11 Beechwood Road from 1940 until 1962 and went to the Wood Memorial school and then to Hawarden. I used to be able to name every family in Beechwood Rd and Elm Grove off it but nowadays I don't know over half the people living in my present road! I remember Mr Worthington had a car in the 1940s and in the winter one year (when winters were really cold and snowy) he gave youngsters a treat by towing a sledge behind his car down the icy road. And Mr Peake gave a film show or two on a screen in his garden, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello featuring in one. I can just remember the air raid shelter at the end of the Beechwood Rd as it was then; later, the fields behind the shelter which belonged to Cissie and Harry Morris's family were built on to provide much needed post war housing. We kids used to play here, taking care not to fall in the lime pits, and making dens using tin sheeting for a roof and placing grass turf on top, and scrumping apples from an orchard in one of the houses on Boundary Lane. We also took apples from Cissie Morris's farm but if she caught you then, my, you were in for it! Happy memories. If Valerie Horton (Bowbanks) gets in touch then I can get a copy for you of the 1954 Hawarden Grammar school pupils and teachers. (I'm in the tel. book in Saltney Ferry.)
Fri Oct 24 08:37:17 2008

Nigel Robinson (Nibby) Brussels/St Asaph
I was at St David's from 1972 to 1980, during its transition from Elfed feeder school to full secondary school. I was in the 2nd year to do 'O' Levels there. Miss Thomas also taught me Home Economics, she must have been at that school forever! Sadly no longer with us Mr Weston and Mr Thomas, my maths teachers stand out for me. Both are mentioned in the dedication of my PhD thesis. I can't watch Derby County without thinking about Peter Weston.I also remember the glass corridor joining the two wings of the school at the west end where we would shelter on wet days. Unfortunately, it was demolished to make way for the new 3 storey block that meant ou had to go outside or walk all the way round the school to get from one side to the other.Surely Welsh teacher Mr Evans was more of a heart-throb than Mr Caughter :-)
Wed Oct 22 09:57:31 2008

David Griffiths, Saltney/Wrexham
Started at St Davids in 1964, had two good years there with fond memories. I still have contact with most of my ex school mates in Saltney even though I live in Wrexham now. Also I would like to say hello to Wendy and anyone who knows me (GRIFF).
Mon Oct 20 07:55:15 2008

Martin Davies - St Louis MO ex North Wales
Judith Standring thanks for commenting... Yes my memory is pretty good on some things. Having said that I have no memories of people outside my immediate family so do not recall a Mrs. Evans (Aunty Letty) although the name does sound familiar please tell me more. Walter’s autobiography is an unpublished work and very well written he writes in a lucid personal easy reading engaging manner a-la Dylan Thomas. I am planning on publishing it privately when I have the time and the means adding some photos and the watercolor painting of Garreg Boeth. I will would be happy to send a copy to you and the Mold Historical Society if you and they would be interested... I think it a great candidate for a radio play - BBC NE Wales are you listening? As I mentioned it is jam packed with all sorts of details and arcane information about the area and probably only of interest my immediate family and maybe those like yourself who lived in the immediate area from say 1850 through 1965.
Mon Sep 22 08:32:02 2008

Janice Hoskins, Saltney
Wood memorial, moving on to St Davids for two years, until 1972, loved every minute of being there. Worst thing was being sent to Elfed at Buckley, although I had some long lasting friends. I remember you Gazza, had some great times. Remember walking all the way from Buckley to Saltney after missing the bus! Mrs Norbury, Mr Cowan, Miss Thomas, Mr Caughter (the girls loved him), Mr Ledward, Mr Thomas, he taught geography. I used to be in Pennant, never used to win much though! The motto, Manners Maketh Man still remains with me today. Hopefully have passed it on to my two boys. Living near Northwich now, but often travel to Saltney to visit family, most have attended St Davids, and enjoyed it.
Mon Sep 22 08:30:49 2008

Steve Zocek, Saltney Ferry
I went to St David's 1972 -1977 and would love to turn back the clock. Hello to all that know me and would love to meet up with a few of you dudes. Sorry to hear about Steve Harley, I knew him from infant school back in 1965, even met him for a beer in the Eagle (Castle Street). He was a cracking lad. I'm now living in Warrington
Wed Sep 10 08:57:14 2008

Janet Latham, Forest of Dean
I was in St David's from '84 till '90, lived in Broughton. My 2 sisters Susan & Helen went there as well and my mum, Barbara Jones (as was). Reading through the posts I was sad to hear that Mr Weston had died. I loved maths lessons with him.
Tue Sep 9 09:54:31 2008

Anne Bannister (Wilding) Neston
My brother Ben and I were at school in the sixties, along with Kathleen Price from the Red Lion pub. We used to go on our bikes from River Lane along the main road, rain or shine and were often passed by Cyril Ledwood telling us to hurry up or we'd be late. I always refused to go to the Christmas parties in the Hall as I was very shy. My best friend was Marion Sadler who became school secretary and married Alan Horton who taught woodwork I think. I remember Pauline Griffiths who emigrated to New Zealand. And Lennie Kegg who was a mate of my brother's.
Mon Sep 1 09:12:05 2008

Philip Robin Morgan
Was in St Davids for two years from 1967. My form teacher was Mr Jones who all the girls in our class had a crush on. Have very fond memories of my time at the school.
Tue Aug 5 09:46:47 2008

Gaynor Hughes
Hello again to everyone that went to St Davids High School, Saltney, during 1970 - 1976. We are trying to organise a reunion if any of you are interested. Register on Friends Re-United and meet up online 1st. There are quite a few of us on there already...
Thu Jul 17 13:45:20 2008

Rosemary Penyffordd
Some old photos of pupils on Friends United, especially of Broughton School, also Saltney to.
Wed Jul 9 15:06:06 2008

Kenny Jones, Chester
To Mike Paget. Hi, it's me, Kenny Jones or Jaffa as I used to get called. Great to hear you are OK. Sadly, Steve Harley[Stick] passed away in Dec 2001, age 40.
Fri Jul 4 08:36:07 2008

Janet Clegg, Penyffordd
Love to read all the comments about St David's School. Does anyone know of a website that has photos of the school from 1964-68? That's when I was there.
Wed Jul 2 08:36:26 2008

Gazza Edwards
I was there for two years 1972, great memories, great teachers. Just a few names I remember: Mr Caughter, Mr Cowans, Ken Sage, Freddy the Frog, Mr Ledwood, Mr Houghton, Miss Norbury, Mr Roden, Mr Westwood. Schoolmates Faz, Boldy, Panton, Lyn Knight, Janice Hopkins. Hope everyone's OK. Always enjoy reading the comments.
Mon Jun 23 08:43:21 2008

Sue Joinson, Saltney.
I too have fond memories of St Davids. My very, very favourite teacher of all times was Mr Mallet Evans, especially if you got him talking about the war. He always used to say " f only I'd bought shares in Smiths Crisps." I remember one exam getting 99% for maths. I was that shocked I asked him what I had got wrong. He said in a sarcastic voice looking over his specks "No one is perfect, not even you!" There was no answer to that. I also remember Miss Thomas who taught us cookery. Myself and Ann Hughes (Norah) used to sit in the back of the class by the store room where she kept all the cookery books and also her hat and coat. Every time she used to send Ann or myself in the store room for a book we used to take some steel wool from the roll of it she kept in there for cleaning the saucepans and stuff in the toes of her shoes, (boy were we daring!). I have only just found this site and it is very interesting especially as one email is from my cousin Jenny in Australia.
Thu May 22 09:03:19 2008

Mike Paget, Vancouver, Canada
Man I just stumbled across this site. I remember lots of the names I just read. I was there around '72-'76. I moved to Cnd in '82 and had sort of lost touch with everyone after that. Hope you are all doing well.
Tue Apr 29 09:11:29 2008

Sue's next door nieghbour
Hi Wendy all my children went to St David's and their dad and grandchildren. I am new, a late starter in this emailing stuff, it was great to find this page. You didn't tell me about it. See you for dinner on Thursday.
Mon Mar 31 10:55:56 2008

Valerie Bowbanks, Stourbridge/Saltney
Hi, I moved from Saltney 1956. Has anyone got a copy of a photo taken about about 1954 of Hawarden Grammar school? I would love a copy, fond memories.
Mon Mar 31 10:12:07 2008

Rosemary, Penyffordd
I wonder if the school motto is still 'Manners maketh man' at St Davids? I think the motto put us in good stead, for our lives.
Wed Feb 27 16:30:38 2008

Rosemary, Penyffordd
Hi Steve, Nice to hear from you. Yes very sad about macca, I'm still on my gap year! The 3 years at Chester was like a reunion, wasn't it, meeting up with you, Chatty, Panton, etc. Say Hi to the boys if you see them ie Terry Jack, Dave...
Tue Feb 12 16:50:54 2008

Steve Derbyshire, Saltney
Just reading all these articles must make people realise what a wonderful place Saltney was to grow up. As children very little of our social time would be spent indoors, it would either be kicking a ball about on the rec or social field or down the cop fishing failing that we would be off over the fields down the common all the way to Bretton woods in hope of adding to our egg collection (don't think it was illegal in those days). Characters in Saltney; Harry Morris, Sissy Morris both ran what you could at a push call small holdings and Sorrento who somehow always managed to get home and what about old Mrs Powell in the paper shop on the High Street? As for friendships, everyone seemed to get on. Chris Marshall and I must have covered miles on foot and bicycle in search of new fishing venues. The five a side tournaments on the social were always great and when we reached the ripe old age of about 13 most of us got jobs as van lads at the Country Maid and we were rich at last! Great times I will never forget.
Tue Feb 12 16:45:53 2008

Steve Derbyshire, Saltney
Hi Rose, looks like all 70-72 pupils have emigrated or something, not heard a thing! I'm working in Manchester at the moment but no doubt things will start picking up back at Chester soon. What about yourself, what you up to? So you agree we had a much nicer time at St Davids. Very sad about Maca (Brian Fearon) passing away. Keep in touch Rose.
Mon Feb 11 16:48:31 2008

Rosemary, Penyffordd
Hi Darbo, Yes, those were days, back in the early '70s, great memories, pity we moved to Elfed... No more going home for dinner... any news from St Davids? Where are you working, are you still down the road? Anyway to get intouch and catch up?
Fri Feb 8 13:36:44 2008

Clare from Chorley
I'm 16 now - went to Wood Memorial too and loved it. Then I went to Saint David's High School, it was ace but then I moved to Chorley (Lancashire).
Mon Jan 21 08:12:19 2008

Steve Derbyshire from Saltney
Hello Rosie and anyone else who was at St Davids circa 1970 - 1972. I can honestly say I really enjoyed my time at St Davids which is more than I could say about that awful school Elfed! Both metalwork and woodwork great, PE was always good in that antiquated gym! One great thing was being able to go home at lunch time for dinner which my lovely mum would always have prepared. Any '70-'72 pupils out there?
Wed Jan 16 08:05:50 2008

Mel Taylor
OMG to see all these posts, I thought it was a long time since I went to St Davids High School but I only left in 1995. It's great to read these stories and brings very fond memories back from my school days. From an ex pupil, Melanie Taylor, 1990-1995.
Mon Jan 14 08:51:50 2008

Christine Price, Connah's Quay
Hi everyone, I was at St Davids from 1972-1977, Gaynor you and I have met a couple of times in recent years, good to hear you are keeping okay. I remember the experience well, giving the teachers hell (all in the name of devilment!) Mr Cowan strutting out of class 'leaving us all to stew' because every time he turned to the board some wag would throw something accross the room, yes we were little darlings! Miss Norbury was my favourite teacher she had a way of commanding attention but keeping everything interesting in the process. (She also had the knack of knowing who was actually doing what when she faced the board, how did she do that?) I recall insulting Mr Roden in the corridor and he pinned me to the wall by my neck stating firmly that 'Familiarity breeds contempt!' Didn't know what the hell that meant at the time (adult speak for sore neck was my conclusion). If I remember correctly we all had to walk to the left of the corridors with 'no running'. Class changeover was still a chaotic journey as we just couldn't help stopping to talk, swap homework or chase the latest male sex symbol (any boy over 4'6 with a trendy mullet hairdo and the biggest knot in his tie as I recall). Does anyone remember the tuck shop aka the cupboard outside the main hall, where you could get all sorts of delicacies for 10p, potato puffs and a drink of panda pop for eg. As for P.E that was one subject I hated with a passion, the showers were disgusting, very often cold, you had to strip off alongside your mates and Miss Anderson and her sidekick used to snatch the towel as you were going in. I learned very quickly to forge my mum's signature and supplied excuse notes on a weekly basis after that, I think I must have used every excuse but a verrucca was always a favourite. I also recall getting 86% in a cookery exam for making a salad? I thought it was due to the exceptional effort given to making flowers out of the tomatoes but on reflection it could have been a sympathy vote from Miss Thomas! Oh well it's time to go and top up my blue rinse lol, but it would be nice to hear from anyone who remembers me. I was rather dark skinned with 'Dame Edna' glasses, braces on my teeth and a lovely girly mullet (I think we all eventually has one in one guise or another! Once seen - never forgotten surely. Best wishes to all.
Mon Dec 3 10:18:54 2007

Ian Johnson - Wrexham
All of this takes me back to the late 1950s when Saltney Secondary Modern was in its formative years. I remember one or two of the ex-pupils mentioned here including Pauline Molyneaux who was in my year. As a Broughton boy I also recall with fondness the old Bellis bus that was used to transport pupils day in, day out. At going home time I always used to try to get on the bus that used to go via Kinerton because this was a rare Daimler coach with blue 'first class' curtains which would be worth a lot of money to a collector these days. I was always a fan of English lessons and my teachers, including Mrs Norbury and Miss Thomas had a great influence on my future. I went on to become a jounalist and have not had a day out of work since I left Saltney School at 15. I am 60 now and I know I could not have done it without the fantastic start these peole gave to me. I was never one for football and cricket and poor old Jack Peters despaired of me. When I was forced out onto the sports field my eye was never on the ball but on the fabulous steam trains that thundered past on the North Wales main line. But Jack's efforts were not in vain because I later became a fencer and competed in the 2001 Veterans Commonwealth event, coming 20th at sabre. When slicing into the highly competitive Australian team I could almost visualise him at my end of the piste yelling 'Come on Johnson, you waster!'
Wed Nov 28 10:03:01 2007

Gaynor Hughes
Hi there C. Davies from Chester. When I was at St Davids from 1971-1976 we had the lunch time scats and a lad called Terry Underhill played DJ. He went on to Radio City and is now with Dee 106.3 I think or maybe even Radio 1...not sure about that one. Mr Weston has since passed away, he was a brilliant teacher and so much fun. And I believe Ken Sage married. "Brave Woman" lol.
Tue Nov 27 16:40:21 2007

C. Davies, Chester
I started at St Davids in 1980, can't believe it was so long ago. Does anyone remember lunch time Scats, the dreaded Mr Sage, Mr Weston and his aniseed balls and buying a bag of crisps with a blob of ice cream from the van - how disgusting does that sound now?
Thu Nov 22 09:07:45 2007

Jennifer (Pickering), Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Answer to Geoffrey Lloyd. Yes it is Jennifer Pickering from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and I did live opposite you in Broughton. I would like to hear about you and your sister Margory or anyone from St Davids High School (Saltney Sec. Modern in those days).
Fri Aug 17 09:34:45 2007

Pauline Molyneux ex Victoria Road and Mainwaring D
Having just celebrated my 60th birthday, it has been great to read all the comments. I went to the Wood Memorial and then to Saltney Secondary Modern, remember the green uniform well, wobetide any of us if we were seen out without our hats and the lads without their caps. Mr Wright was our headmaster, he used to bring his son David into school with him and I still have his 'autograph'. Mr Thomas is still alive and well and I have seen him and his wife occasionally. Had a great school trip to Switzerland and Italy with them when Mrs Thomas broke her ankle! We also had trips across to Ireland to a little seaside town called Bray, I remember the midnight snacks we had in our cabins going across the Irish sea. My sister Margaret married Brian Fitzpatrick one of a large Saltney family from Victoria Road. I remember Barrie, Colin and Jeffrey Gregory and Ernie, Eileen, Wendy and Denise Hughes who were our next door neighbours in Victoria Road. Miss Faulkner is still alive, she turned up again in my life and taught my 3 sons when they started at school in Mancot, I couldn't believe it was her! Nice to see so many 'old' names from the past.
Fri Jul 27 08:13:30 2007

Gaynor Hughes
Hi there to anyone who went to St David's High School Saltney from 1971 - 1976. Like Barrie Gregory, my first headmaster was Mr Wright who then retired and then we had the pleasure or not of Mr Davies. I had Miss Thomas for cookery, Miss Pierce for needlework (I still can't sew) Mrs Anderson for P.E., Mr Catherall for French, the fabulous for Mr Cowan for English, I mean come on a Scotsman teaching English, he was fantastic, those Just William stories were superb. And what about maths with 7ft never ending Mr Weston, he was brilliant, the lads shook in their shoes when the board duster came flying across the classroom... "oh those were the days". Then we had Mrs Norbury, I still see her now and then, she looks no different. Mr Gough for art and design, and those students, oh boy did we give them a hard time, but all in good fun. And the school discos, they were brill. I was in Stanley House (BLUE) the best one of course, and I was a prefect and head prefect two or three years running. Hope everyone I know is OK, add your memories. It's good to talk...
Mon Jul 16 10:25:32 2007

Rosemary, Penyffordd
Was Pat Thomas a teacher?
Mon Jun 18 08:10:09 2007

Leasha graves!
Anyone know Patricia Thomas from St Davids?
Wed Jun 6 09:48:25 2007

Steve Ibell, Saltney
I see my dad's name, Brian, mentioned. He now lives in Mancot. Feel free to email me for any more info.
Tue May 8 10:15:16 2007

Janet Robinson, Saltney Ferry
I went to St Davids from 1979 to 1984, and met some great friends, Bronwen Williams, Tracy Price, Paula Harris, Beccy Preece, the crazy Doug Gorry, Stewart "Gibbo" Gibson, and lots more. Hope you are all well. I married one of our group of friends, Chris Woodall (Pekka), and we moved to Perth, Australia, 10 years ago. We have 2 kids (Georgia and Josh) and often tell them about "the olden days of the 80s"! Time at the RAF camp youth club, Dougie's parties (still memorable), eisteddfods, cross country runs along the cop, and our teachers, the formidable but much respected Mr Weston, Miss Nolan, English Miss Ford, and Chris remembers Miss Jones from music (as I'm sure many of the boys do)!
Fri May 4 10:01:06 2007

Lucy Hamblett, Saltney
I started St David's in September 1994. Previously, I was a pupil at Wood Memorial Primary School. And my first teacher at St David's was Mrs Stuart and left in May 1999.
Mon Apr 2 08:19:39 2007

Abby Cubitt
I still go to the St David's High School now. I'm in year ten - this is a remarkable school.
Thu Mar 29 11:18:43 2007

Barrie Gregory from Saltney
Saltney Secondary Modern was a brilliant school. I started at the same time as Geoff Lloyd who I remember was a superb sportsman, my could that lad run! We were also in the same school football team. Teachers that I can remember were Mr Wright the headmaster, Mr Evans the deputy head, Mr Ledward whose subject was chiefly science, Mrs Norbury and Mr Dyson who both taught English, Mrs Edwards, who all the lads fancied like mad. We were also blessed with Mr Knowles who took us for PE and geography. When he left he was succeded by Jack Peters. What characters these last two were, I'll never forget them. I seem to recall that, for a smallish school, we more than held our own against other much bigger ones when it came to sport and academic achievement. Other schoolmates that I can remember included the Mathews twins, Brian Page whose Dad was in the RAF, John Willets who I still see in Saltney occasionally and who was a fine footballer, Brian Ibell who I haven't seen for many many years. Brian Fitzpatrick, John Williams, Bruce Tomlinson, Tony Wilson, Bobby Dixon, and amongst the girls, Jenny Williams, Doreen Douthwaite, Pat Hulse, Pamela Kingsman. I also remember Wendy, an earlier contributor, and see her occasionally in the village (or should I say, town). There were three annual events at the school that I always looked forward to, Sports day, the annual football tournament between the four houses and in March of every year, the school eisteddfod. The eisteddfod was usually won by Grosvenor house and the football by Stanley House. Sports day was less predictable. I loved my time there, oh if only we could all do it again!
Mon Mar 26 16:20:43 2007

Rosie Lee
I spent 2 years at St Davids, 1970, (not long enough) learnt a lot with Miss Thomas 1st thing we did in cookery was a large scone. We made our apron and head scarf for cookery with Mrs Pierce, great maths teacher Mr Roden. PE teacher Mrs Anderson for girls Mr Caughter for the boys. Great disco at lunch time once a week, dancing round. Mrs Norbury, Mr Wright head teacher, Mr Ledwood, lots of great teachers that come to mind. I remember the icecream man, he came all weathers. Great two years there, our year was the last to go to Elfed Buckley.
Wed Jan 31 10:58:00 2007

Geoffrey Lloyd, AKA Wheezer
I, like Wendy, started at Saltney Secondary Modern School in September 1956. Living in Broughton we caught what seemed to be the oldest bus in Wales from Broad Oak Avenue. The bus from the Bellis Coach Co, Buckley seemed to have an up-turned sledge on the rear of the roof with a ladder leading to it for luggage. Arriving at school I was placed in Class 1A which was mixed, all those pretty girls, moving on to 2A, 3T and 4T. The "Technical" classes were boys' only, the girls going to 3C and 4C "Commercial" classes to study shorthand and typing etc. Others going to 3 and 4 Removal to be taught gardening and sewing etc. In the 4th year about six boys and six girls were ennobled as "Prefects", VIPs to keep law and order "Do as I say, not as I do", and I should know! The teachers, many of which like myself had nicknames, at that time were: Mr "Nadge" Wright, headmaster, Mr "Mallet" Evans (when I was in Bombay), Mr "Dickie" Dyson (ol' blue eyes), Mr "Puskas" Knowles (PT), Mr "Tosha" Thomas, Mr "Killer" Hughes (woodwork), Miss Scott, Mrs "Nellie" Norbury, Miss Thomas, Miss Berry, Mrs Evans, Miss Edwards (very smart), the caretaker was Mr Herbert "Biff" Crofts. I seemed to spend quite a lot of time in the gymnasium and sports field, not much time for many lessons, and you could even watch the steam loco's pass from the bottom of the football pitch. There were four "houses" to which pupils were placed, named after local gentry: Pennant - Yellow, Grosvenor - Red, Stanley - Blue, Gladstone - Green, and we wore an appropriately coloured lapel badge on our blazer to advertise which house we belonged to. Pennant was always the best house! Pupils represented his or her house at the annual Eisteddfod and Sports day, and there was an annual Prize day when a local celebrity was invited to present a prize to pupils who came 1st, 2nd, 3rd and Progress in class. I came 2nd one year and received a book from Meredith Edwards (who's he?), or was it Lord Birkett? Saltney Secondary Modern was an excellent school at that time with excellent teachers and school mates. I had a very happy time there with lots of good memories. PS: Would Jennifer from Queensland be Jennifer P*******g of 34, Windsor Drive, next door to Brian Ellis? PPS: I STILL support Chester City FC.
Mon Dec 11 10:20:00 2006

Jennifer
I have lived in Australia since 1977. I started at Saltney Sec. I think it was 1955. I would like to contact ex pupils from about that time. Names I remember Pat Hulse, Audrey Chatterton, Janet Houghton, Geoffrey Lloyd. We had shorthand and typing with Miss Scott and I loved my history teacher Mr Dyson, such blue eyes. I remember catching the school bus home with two basins full of custard and stewed apples. They ended up in a right mess over the bus seat, the driver was not happy. I now work for the Queensland Fire Service.
Tue Sep 26 09:47:25 2006

Paul Hughes from Saltney
I started at St David's High in September 1963. Previously I had been a student at Hawarden Grammar School in Penarlag. I had passed my 11 plus from The Wood Memorial School but hated the Grammar school so much. It was a pleasure going to school at Saltney and immediately I became Number 1 in Miss Norbury's class in the first semester. I am now a school teacher myself, 6,000 miles away in Bangkok, Thailand. I often wonder what happened to all the students I went to school with. I left St David's in July 1965 to start my apprenticeship at John Summer's Steelworks at Shotton. I hope the students of today enjoy themselves as much as I did at St David's. A great school, especially Mr Evans the old maths teacher who taught me a lot. The school will remain in my memories forever.
Fri Aug 11 07:53:08 2006

billy joel
ha, remember it well
Fri Jul 7 07:50:09 2006

Alan Jones from Drury.
Remember it well. I started in 1960 after Wood Memorial. My first form teacher was Miss Berry (1A), then Mr Dyson (2A), not sure who was 3A, Mrs Norbury (4A) then Nadge for 5A. Happy times. I'm married to a teacher now and the stories of teraching, especially discipline, nowadays seem a different world from then.
Fri May 19 10:02:44 2006

Me
Thanks goodness times change! You don't say whether it was girls learning to do all the chores or was it boys as well?
Thu Mar 23 07:57:06 2006

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